36 replies to this topic

[racechasser]

Thanks for listening!! I can understand the growing and learning phase, and please don't think I was trying to be negative, I really like WRP and hope it succeeds! I just have a lot of years around dirt tracks and seen a few concerns and/or room for some improvements, which is true of every race track. Keep listening and keep diggin WRP!!!

[goober25g]

I agree with the removal of the dust down watering before races or tell the field to run it in for a few laps. I don't think that re-entree is a good idea. When Dean ran the field it was allowed for a t least one yr and it was only done once that I remember. If you pit in the east forty like I do it would be near impossible. I also wanna say that the nonwingers down from me in the pits have been going nice and slow exiting the track. Several times they have completely stopped and had to wait on a push to their pit spots. I greatly appreciate their safe exit speed. Also two new feature winners Sat, awesome!!

[jgilley]

WRP has the potential to be a very good track . 115 cars/trucks over 6 classes isn't a lot of cars . Drop a class , maybe the compacts . I have been told the compacts are entry level and have been told the trucks are entry level . How many entry level classes does a track need . Maybe change the trucks to 6 cyl. and drop the mini sprints or sprints. Having raced on dirt at several track over 20 plus years in other states I would have to say WRP does a fair job of having the track ready for hot laps . The track is NOT prepared for the drivers when Hot Laps start . After wetting the track why not have the DRIVERS pack the track . Get ALL classes out to pack the track . I had never raced on a track I didn't have to help pack until I ran at WRP last year . If we didn't help pack the track we started LAST in feature no matter where you finished in your heat race .

Edited by jgilley, 21 June 2012 - 09:32 AM.

[WootenRacing17]

The classes are fine, first of all you can say compact and trucks are entry level class all you want but you still spend money to compete and to say drop sprint cars are you nuts the non wings have to the most cars a week and mini sprint has good car count as well, and if you want to pay for my fuel to pack the track in I will do but until then I don't think so.....

[kartracer229]

Kokomo makes all the sprints go out and run the track in, and then pulls 75% of the cars off, and theres your first group of hotlaps. Your fuel to idle for 15-20 laps is gonna cost you a grand total of $7.52 for the night. We use 5-7 gallons of fuel in our stock every night. I have no problem with designating 2-3 classes a night to assist running the track in, of course, it needs moisture to need any sort of "running in" before the night begins. It wouldnt be that hard for the sprints to do it during motor fires either, just an idea.

[KO_23]

I will be running a truck over at WRP starting next weekend (fired up today for the first time) and i would have no problem packing the track in, especially if it means that the track is gonna be in better shape for the rest of the night.

[jgilley]

Everyone thinks their class needs to stay where it is . Entry level classes are NOT supposed to be , or shouldn,t be about who can spend the most money . They are designed or should be designed to learn , about setting a car up and how to drive a racecar . Someone that doesn't have the money but wants to race cannot be close to competitive against someone who has the money to build a so called " stock " compact or truck . I know for a fact if half the trucks were tore down they would not pass tech . I know the person that builds some of the engines and know what he does to them . I showed up unknown at WRP with a truck and NEVER had to go thru tech or be inspected to make sure I had a legal truck . I am legal , probably to a fault that I am not as fast as most . What I have seen at WRP is what I would call " Run em in Race em and lets go home " . Everyone including the promoter and owners seem to have a set agenda and a timekeeper like it is a business meeting instead of a Saturday night dirt track . Too many people NOT involved with a racecar or team are milling around the pit area , around the cars and walking in the driving area . The pit area sometimes seems like the midway at a county fair with all the people walking around . There have been a few times intoxicated people that have fallen OFF racecars riding thru the pit to line up for a race . This should NEVER be allowed to happen . Alcholic beveraged should not be allowed in the pit area or stands in the pit area . If fans want to sit in the pit area thats fine but they should NOT be allowed around the cars without a team credential . Something the team pays for issued thru the track . Nothing fancy at all needed . Something like a long nylon lanyard that slips over your head with a laminated ID showing you are a team member . If you don't have one you don't leave the pit grandstands . It might seem I am complaing about WRP . and in a way possibly I am , but doing so in a way that I hope makes the racing and pit area safer . Hopefully at the same time making the racing better for the drivers and fans .

[jgilley]

And as far as paying for anyones fuel to pack the track in ....Not gonna happen . It is in my mind not only the responsibility of the track owner and promoter to assure a safe racing surface free of ruts caused by push trucks sliding around corner it is the responsibility to the drivers participating at the track to assist . To help make sure the racing surface is suitable for ALL classes to race on

[KO_23]

Everyone thinks their class needs to stay where it is . Entry level classes are NOT supposed to be , or shouldn,t be about who can spend the most money . They are designed or should be designed to learn , about setting a car up and how to drive a racecar . Someone that doesn't have the money but wants to race cannot be close to competitive against someone who has the money to build a so called " stock " compact or truck . I know for a fact if half the trucks were tore down they would not pass tech . I know the person that builds some of the engines and know what he does to them . I showed up unknown at WRP with a truck and NEVER had to go thru tech or be inspected to make sure I had a legal truck . I am legal , probably to a fault that I am not as fast as most .
What I have seen at WRP is what I would call " Run em in Race em and lets go home " . Everyone including the promoter and owners seem to have a set agenda and a timekeeper like it is a business meeting instead of a Saturday night dirt track . Too many people NOT involved with a racecar or team are milling around the pit area , around the cars and walking in the driving area . The pit area sometimes seems like the midway at a county fair with all the people walking around .
There have been a few times intoxicated people that have fallen OFF racecars riding thru the pit to line up for a race . This should NEVER be allowed to happen . Alcholic beveraged should not be allowed in the pit area or stands in the pit area . If fans want to sit in the pit area thats fine but they should NOT be allowed around the cars without a team credential . Something the team pays for issued thru the track . Nothing fancy at all needed . Something like a long nylon lanyard that slips over your head with a laminated ID showing you are a team member . If you don't have one you don't leave the pit grandstands .
It might seem I am complaing about WRP . and in a way possibly I am , but doing so in a way that I hope makes the racing and pit area safer . Hopefully at the same time making the racing better for the drivers and fans .

If you did your pit pass idea no one would buy a pit pass. When i go i get a pit pass and i do because i like to walk around in the pit area and check out the cars. No i dont jump in front of the crew guys while they are working on the car but I like to venture around. I know a couple of the drivers but i am not part of their crew. If your idea became reality then why would people buy a pit pass? If they have to stay in the grandstands why would you pay more than double a regular ticket just to sit in the turn? Then the track starts to lose more money.

[jgilley]

I understand your reasoning about the pit pass . But once the racing starts ... hot laps included ONLY drivers and team members should be allowed to walk in the pits around the cars . SAFETY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED . Agree the fans should be allowed to have upclose look at cars if they want , bot that should happen before hotlaps start . Drivers including myself are guilty of removing helmets and or unhooking belts while going to pit spot after their race . sooner or later hopefully later someone is going to get hurt just "milling " around in the pits to see a friend .

[KO_23]

I understand your reasoning about the pit pass . But once the racing starts ... hot laps included ONLY drivers and team members should be allowed to walk in the pits around the cars . SAFETY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED . Agree the fans should be allowed to have upclose look at cars if they want , bot that should happen before hotlaps start . Drivers including myself are guilty of removing helmets and or unhooking belts while going to pit spot after their race . sooner or later hopefully later someone is going to get hurt just "milling " around in the pits to see a friend .

True but thats a risk that the fans are willing to take. I agree with the alcohol tho there should be no alcohol consumption going on in the pit area period. I dont even think that fans should be allowed to drink in the pit area grand stands to big of a risk.

[jgilley]

Fans willing to take the risk isn't a good thought . Myself and probably most drivers don't go to the race track to socialize with friends . I go to the racetrack to have fun and try to have a competitive car/truck . I talk with other drivers about the track and things that pertain to what I am doing . I agree this isn't NASCAR but at the same time it is racing and all fans need to understand that not concentrating on the task at hand COULD get someone hurt very badly .

[compact racer]

Fans willing to take the risk isn't a good thought . Myself and probably most drivers don't go to the race track to socialize with friends . I go to the racetrack to have fun and try to have a competitive car/truck . I talk with other drivers about the track and things that pertain to what I am doing . I agree this isn't NASCAR but at the same time it is racing and all fans need to understand that not concentrating on the task at hand COULD get someone hurt very badly .

While I'll agree with a lot of your points including to many classes so called stock. Our own class is quickly getting out of hand. I mean really A ford escort that runs and hides from honda preludes and is suppose to be stock.? really? On the other subject of fans and socializing I couldn't agree less. Yes the pits at WRP are far from fan friendly or racer friendly for that part. On the other hand part of local racing is friends and family. With that comes socializing. I've been involved in racing for nearly 40 yrs and have learned that time to prepare your car is at the shop. Yes things do happen and some have to do serious work at the track. I've never been to a track that doesn't have a disclaimer about danger and /or it isn't addressed at the drivers meeting. If you try to take the friends and family out of local racing it will die so quickly that no one will know what happened.

[jgilley]

I agree that you do most of your work at the shop, but every week track conditions change and track conditions change between features depending on which cars or trucks have been running. Therefore, work on your setup is a constant requirement while at the racetrack. That is why people have tools and generators and air tanks and air compressors and different tires to run. Once the racing starts, hot laps included, there should be no one allowed in the pits without being identified as a member of a race team. Because of the way the track is set up at WRP, cars coming off the track drive directly into the pit area while people are walking around sometimes paying no attention to where they are walking. The driver is concentrating on getting to his pits and is not always able to notice someone who might dart into his path. I am not saying family and friends should not be in the pits for whatever reason during the day and early evening. What I am saying is I believe that for the safety of everyone...only those involved directly working on or racing the car should be allowed in the pits after hot laps start. At that time, those who do not meet that requirement simply sit in the bleachers, wherever they choose.....pit area, or grandstand area.

[Truckfan]

Did you happen to watch hotlaps and see the 48 stock hit the fence hard? I never saw the dirt pile, and I've probably ran high through there hundreds of times and never "lost it" or hit the wall. Ever. I just know I tried the high lane once and it took off on me hitting the wall pretty hard. I woke up with a sore body, and a ton of work to do on the car.

Tim, every thing is always someone elses fault but your own.......You screw up and blame it on your help, you wash up and blame it on the track, you wreck and blame it on the track you take someone out and blame it on the person you took out. Ever think YOU might be your problem? Stop bitching and race everyone else deals with the same track you do!

[Dirtracer48]

Hi Brian, I am not sure we've ever met. I am not sure where you would get these impressions, but I will reply below.

Tim, every thing is always someone elses fault but your own.......You screw up and blame it on your help

I can't express enough how incorrect you are. I can think of ONE time I had a big disagreement on a setup issue, it related to shocks. With TWO changed shocks, we managed to lock and bind the car up so bad we missed the inversion of six when there were seven cars there....yup we got last. Of course I had some "I told you so" when I came back in, but as far as I am concerned it is a joke at this point we make fun of regularly. I appreciate the help I get VERY much, and will state that the car has -never- gone out on the track with anything on it we didn't agree on ahead of time. How would I blame someone for my own decisions? Conversely, the feature we won at Fremont was entirely due to Erik's work putting it all together and working tirelessly to make sure it got done. Finally getting a win is a debt I hope to someday help him accomplish as well.

you wash up and blame it on the track, you wreck and blame it on the track

Assuming you're referring to the post in this thread. Like it said in the thread, I had no idea what happened. Never once in two years did I misjudge that corner to the extent the penalties involved guard rails. I ran one lap low in hotlaps, and moved up to the top for the second lap. When I went into three, the back end came around on me hard enough it went straight into the wall hitting on the right rear of the car. The front end came around and the car started climbing...I thought I was going to flip. I had no idea what happened, I was confused. The next hotlap session the #100 mod came in, destroyed. He lost it in three and hit the wall harder than I did. Someone posted about piles of dirt on here, I simply asked if whoever posted that saw me hit the wall to see if that's possibly what happened? I asked another driver in my division after reading this if he saw me hit the wall. His response was "no, I was busy fixing my car after I hit the wall in three as well". I've got enough laps to know my entry on the corner was no different than it was hundreds of other times before, but if it makes you feel good to think I just stepped on my dick and blamed the track, I doubt there is much I can say to change your mind.

you take someone out and blame it on the person you took out.

One example, please? I can think of two instances in two years where people were pissed, or someone got run over. If you're referring to the 71 car, no one was ever blamed for that one. That one was ALL me, and I still don't know how I managed to screw that up that bad. I immediately apologized, and offered to pay for any damages to his equipment. We've raced each other plenty since then, and have never had another problem. The lesson I learned there was "patience", and also to not be too quick to judge the next time I get ran over....as shit happens and there's a good chance it was an accident. The second issue was with the 16 car at Waynesfield, also in 2011. We started side by side, he got the jump on me pretty good. I went into the bottom hard in turn one, he came down to get to the bottom. I stood on the brakes as hard as I could to where it locked up the rear tires and shut the motor off...and I still couldn't keep from climbing over top of him. No real damage, but it took us both out of the race. At the time I was dead convinced he chopped my nose off, and he was dead convinced I went into the corner wide open and just ran him over. Truth of the matter is - it was racing and there was no real fault, other than the fact I should have assumed the 16 car was going to come down to his home on the bottom. We got over it, as did everyone else as far as I know. I consider Jeff a friend, and we've helped each other out quite a bit. If there are any other incidents the peanut gallery would like an explanation on, I'd be glad to do so.

Ever think YOU might be your problem? Stop bitching and race everyone else deals with the same track you do!

Yup, a lot of times I am the problem. This case there were at least two more cars that got crashed in the same spot "on the same track". I am over it, this thread is how many months old??? I am no different than anyone else when it comes to mistakes. I'd put myself above average on owning up to them and trying to make them right. I am out there for the same reason as everyone else - the FUN. There surely isn't any money involved, not to mention the time and financial and time sacrifices it takes to put on a competitive effort.

Tim

PS, if your problem with me related to something else I am unaware of, send me an email or give me a call - will PM you the info.

[KO_23]

Tim I was the one that posted something about the piles of dirt at the top of the track in turn 3 that night. I was watching it and yes thats what you did, it was the same exact thing that i saw 4 or 5 car do in hot laps. Thats why I posted something about it. Im not ripping on the track cuz i love WRP but I am just letting you know that yes that is what you did. Just like the others you went in you hit the dirt mound and you went into the wall